Raman unseats Bass in L.A. mayoral runoff
The council member won 29% in the June primary and used a surge of union endorsements and Latino voter support to defeat the incumbent in the general election.
By Harper Collins ·
Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles.
The race began under difficult conditions for the challenger. Raman entered the contest on Feb. 7, the final day of the filing deadline. Her operation lacked a physical office, a bank account, and a formal website. Ian Manheimer, the campaign manager, joined the team after a late-night phone call. He noted that the early days in Raman's backyard accessory dwelling unit dispelled any notion that the campaign had been planned for a long time.
Raman faced a steep climb against Bass, who held endorsements from most of the city's traditional power brokers. Raman also contended with a crowded field that included Spencer Pratt, a former reality television star. Pratt’s aggressive social media campaign captured significant media attention during the primary. Raman’s team worked to position Pratt as a MAGA Republican, a label they believed would limit his appeal in a deep-blue city. Raman articulated this distinction during an NBC4 debate on May 6, describing Pratt's vision as a dystopian view of Los Angeles.
The primary results on June 2 set the stage for a two-way runoff. Bass led the field with 34% of the vote. Raman finished second with 29%, narrowly edging out Pratt, who received 26%. The victory secured Raman a place in the final round and allowed her campaign to restart fundraising and expand its staff.
The dynamic of the race shifted in the runoff. Bass maintained strong support among labor unions and elected officials, but Raman secured key endorsements that bolstered her ground game. In August, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters backed her, followed by Unite Here Local 11, a major union representing hospitality workers. City Controller Kenneth Mejia and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also endorsed the campaign. Mejia became an active defender of Raman, frequently engaging on social media to counter negative narratives.
Financial support played a decisive role in the second round. Aaron Sosnick, a hedge fund manager, contributed $8 million to two independent expenditure groups supporting Raman. This made him the largest single spender in the campaign. The funds were used to amplify Raman's message of affordability and housing development.
The campaign targeted Latino voters with specific intensity. Raman improved her Spanish and partnered with local content creators to spread her policy positions. This strategy yielded results. Polls from UC Berkeley IGS and the Los Angeles Times showed Raman leading Bass among Latino likely voters throughout the runoff period.
Bass’s campaign focused on negative messaging, portraying Raman as too far left and absent from City Council duties. Raman’s unfavorable ratings rose during the summer. Her team attributed this to a deliberate strategy by Bass's allies to define Raman through criticism. Jeff Millman, a campaign advisor, stated that the goal was to ensure voters understood Raman's record despite these attacks.
Raman improved her debate performance as the election approached. She spent hours practicing to appear more confident. During the final debate on Oct. 13, she referenced former LAPD Chief Daryl Gates and the city's noncooperation stance with immigration authorities. Bass used this remark to argue that Raman romanticized a controversial era. Raman’s team maintained that her focus on a hopeful, positive vision for the city helped her close the gap in the final days.
On election night, Raman initially trailed Bass by a few percentage points before overtaking her. She described her vision as one where residents can afford to live in the city and where government remains responsive. She stated that Angelenos were hungry for that specific type of local leadership.
